Chapter Twelve: Ferrets and Myrmidons
(Liza)
"So, we go to the basement, get the ferrets, get the meat, and bolt for the sub?" Theresa lay her head on my lap as Deyana loaded pistols and gave each of us several extra knives, as well as a sword each.
"Yes, exactly," she loaded Julio's backpack down with dynamite. "We're in, we're out, one or two ferrets, with luck, will come with us. Julio and I'll take the ferrets, and you'll carry Theresa, until we need you to help us take down the ferrets."
"Compromise only if our lives are compromised," Julio added. I stared down at the winger, who gazed back up at me. Deyana usually carried Theresa, but Julio thought it best I should this time. Deyana objected at first. She warned me not to slander Theresa in anyway, reminding me constantly that the only thing she had left was her mind.
"Let's go. With all luck, we'll remain undetected," Deyana stepped out first, followed by Julio. I picked up Theresa. Her weight hurt the shoulder I carried her on, so I switched shoulders every so often. It wasn't wise to carry her in my arms, like Deyana did, because I might need both my hands.
"Up," Julio kept me from continuing down the tunnel. He went up first, and I adjusted Theresa to get us both up. I felt her dig her feet into my thigh, to keep from falling off. I bit my lip to keep from screaming in pain.
The sunset filtered across the horizon. Deyana insisted this would be a safe time. The wingers would be roasting, and there was enough sunlight to hurt the ferret's eyes. We passed the warehouse, continuing to the rundown building, with the meat and ferrets in the basement.
I paused inside the door, staying in the remaining rays of sunlight. Julio motioned for me to draw my knives, and I did so. Julio walked down the stairs first, followed by Deyana. I heard Theresa squeak, out of fear. "Yeah, I know," I whispered as I again went down the dark stairs.
The hissing came from the basement. I saw the five sets of red eyes. Julio and Deyana charged down the stairs, and I stayed frozen, afraid to draw my gun and miss.
I saw two eyes come after me, and I lunged at the creature. I threw Theresa on it, and I heard a yelp of pain as she hurt it. I found the neck, swiping the blade through the throat. I found Theresa, coming over to help a struggling Deyana. I could only see three pairs of eyes, and so I killed the ferret Deyana battled.
"You're quite efficient with the blade," Deyana panted, racing over to Julio. The other two went down, struggling, and soon, everything was silent.
"This one," Deyana instructed Julio. He picked up a ferret, and Deyana walked back across the room. "And I've got this one."
"They're sedated for a couple hours, but we'll need another sedative," Deyana led the way up the stairs. When we got in the fading light, I flinched at the ghastly sight of the ferrets. Their snake like bodies, covered with thick, ebony fur, were wider than my waist. They stretched taller than I did when I saw them, in light, stretched over Julio and Deyana's shoulders. I shuddered at the huge fangs and small arms, supporting sharp talons. Was there really a human brain inside those things?
We raced along, between cards, trying to hide. Deyana and Julio both received several wounds, although Deyana's were the worst. I could see the warehouse, but as we passed it, I heard the loud booming footfalls. My heart raced. "Oh my God!" I screamed. Julio Deyana took off at a run, but neither of us moved very fast.
"Leth me gho!" Theresa screeched. "PLEHSE!"
I took her off my shoulders, and she ran a couple feet on her little legs, taking off into the air. She soared, and I watched her, flying over us, coming low enough to follow close enough to us. "AHEAD!"
The seven Myrmidons advanced, getting ready to trap us in their nets. Julio walked up beside me. "Help me out, and if we go down, Deyana, run." I drew a knife and the swords. Julio drew his sword. He grabbed a stick of dynamite, lit it, let the fuse burn down, and threw it at the advancing Myrmidons, killing four of them.
The remaining Myrmidons were too close. One shot their net, catching me. I screamed, using my sword to cut the trappings. Julio advanced on the other two, also getting caught. Theresa swooped down, pulling the one holding Julio on to the ground. She dragged the creature along as it tried to cut her.
I fought at my creature, but it got annoyed, ready to pierce me through. It froze as several gunshots riddled its armor. It glared at me, as I pulled away. I turned back, watching Deyana, pistol cocked, aiming at the other creature. She never missed it, and soon, Julio had rejoined us.
"MORE!" Theresa flew back over. She swooped back at the other Myrmidon. Deyana raced over to the scene, pulling out a dose of sedatives. She ran over, injecting the Myrmidon while Theresa attached it. The creature went limp, and I gasped at the feat.
"Help me!" Deyana screamed.
"You're crazy," Julio whispered, walking over, helping Deyana anyway. "What if it wakes?"
"The ferrets?" I whispered. Deyana waved her hand, obviously considering the Myrmidon more important. I raced back to the tunnel, reaching it first. Theresa helped Deyana and Julio drag the Myrmidon, and soon, Deyana descended the tunnel with me. Next, Julio threw Theresa down, and then, he threw the Myrmidon down.
"Be careful! You'll break its neck!" Deyana hissed. Julio jumped down.
"More," he whispered. The squeaking of trackers could be heard. "Run like hell. Liza, Deyana, help me."
I grabbed Theresa, racing back to the sub. The sewers were dark, and I was terrified of getting lost, but I'd memorized the way we took. I arrived at the end of the tunnel, climbing into the sub. Deyana and Julio soon followed.
We descended, but I couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. The monstrous Myrmidon lay at my feet. How long would it sleep? Deyana pulled out another tube of sedative. She injected it again, a frown deeply set on her face. In her eyes, sparkled ambition, pure and unbridled. (Deyana)
Julio and Liza hoisted the huge creature out of the sub. I grabbed Theresa, hauling her into her bedroom. "Yhour arhm," I gazed down at the bloody gash. I nodded, walking out of the room.
"Julio, help me, like last time," Julio already began doing the restraints. "Liza, draw a gun and a knife. If it wakes before I'm done, you're damage control. Julio, more restraints."
"If it wakes?" Liza's face paled. I gathered the surgical equipment. Julio walked over to me, bandages in hand.
"You can't operate without me fixing your arm," he cleaned it for infection, and then wrapped it up, tending to all my less serious wounds, too. "Okay, should I remove the armor?"
"Only the head gear," Julio took off the helmet that the Myrmidon wore. Liza gasped at the actual face of the creature. The nose protruded a little farther than a human's, the brows where heavy, and the skin rumpled and thick, almost like scales. There was fur covering the forehead, head, and chin. Two small horns protruded from its head, but otherwords, the face remarkable resembled a human's face.
"Creepy," Liza whispered. I had already begun the incisions through the thick skull, penetrating my way down to the little, silver ball. I removed it, carefully repairing the Myrmidon's skull, stitching up the thick skin. I sighed, smashing the ball to pieces.
"Good," I sighed. Liza lowered her weapons, but Julio remained on his guard. "You may go rest, now, and I'll call you when it wakes. There shouldn't be a mission for a while, unless I run into problems, because Myrmidons come with the capability to speak."
"Good," Julio began to treat his own wounds. Liza headed out, back to her room. I followed her, deciding to see Theresa.
"Are you going to sleep, too?" Liza asked quietly. I shook my head. Liza watched as I walked into Theresa's room. She considered following me, waiting at the door, and then, peered in. "Good night," she smiled at the two of us, hinting I wanted to talk to just Theresa.
"Nice," Theresa said. I nodded, watching the winger maneuver her way up into the sleeping bag. I lay on the bed below, looking up at her.
"Splendid job today."
"Thanks," Theresa's English began increasingly better. "I flhoh."
"Yes, everyone certainly pulled their weight quite efficiently," I gazed into the dark ocean. "I think that's what made the original team so weak. We were inexperienced, and some didn't pull their weight."
"Dan?"
"Yes, a little," I sighed. "There were others. Lucky Julio survived. He's the hardest worker I've ever had."
"Yesh," Theresa replied. "Nice."
"Yes," I sighed, laying down. "Don't fall, okay?"
"Ohkhay," Theresa replied. I closed my eyes, drifting into a state of being half-awake and asleep.
I sat up, unable to continue this charade of terrible half sleep. Time passed, apparently, although my brain felt the hours in half consciousness. No, my mind lay in the lab, drifting over the moment of victory or bloody defeat.
I stood up, hearing Theresa's easy breathing. Good, she slept well, and with luck, would have another companion. I slid into the lab, the table illuminated only by one light. I leaned against a cabinet, in a dark corner, watching the sedated Myrmidon.
Victory or defeat, but whatever was worth it for this priceless opportunity. No Myrmidon had ever been captured by my team. Good graces had it I'd done a surgery before now.
The turning of the tide, what a tantalizing phrase! Foolish, really, to think this as the decisive moment, for that really already happened. Still, I felt it, alone, waiting, left with nothing to do but think.
When time spared me a moment to think, I was on the verge. Of what, I never could be sure, but like before Theresa, I felt it. I drank the moment, realizing when it woke up, I'd know if the surgery worked. I'd never studied them Myrmidons, so it could easily wake and kill us all.
Still, death seemed a shadow. At least Dan wasn't here to ruin this for me. Theresa already existed here, breaching that boundary for this creature. Theresa's sacrifice could never be underestimated, her with holding against Dan never forgotten. She never told me, but I knew him.
That loathsome bastard! He took Stelo, who would have been another useful number. Better, though, to have three loyal than five treacherous. I smiled, slightly, realizing how quickly everything began to move. My plan began to slide along, and this would advance my cause. True, the supply route was still dangerous, and a new one still might need to be found.
A loud groan came from the creature. I felt my body go rigid, breathless, and stiff. I waited for the attack, secretly hoping against it. The eyes opened, staring up at the ceiling. Another deep groan reverberated from its throat.
Ah, another success. I watched, letting my smile grow wide. Great risk reaped greater advantages. I didn't move, watching its eyes. Thoughts raced behind the eyes.
Fear flashed about, fear of the surrounding. If Theresa's account was correct, it couldn't remember a period of time before its sad birthday. Intelligent eyes pieced quickly together that information. Escape, the eyes screamed. It thought it might be in the meat factory.
Escape not from surrounding, I realized, but from its body. The eyes pleaded silently for it. I walked forward. "There's no escape from there."
"Death," a deep base voice replied. I scowled.
"Suicide, a coward's choice," I gazed down, furious, at this mind's choice. "Death? Death! The dead cannot change their fortunes! While in life, things may be done, but in death, it is over."
"Better," the eyes looked towards the side. I felt the urge to kill this pathetic thing on the table.
"Better? Is that so? Do you think your fate is entirely your own? No! Our lives don't belong to us, but are more than just ours." I grabbed the little clipboard, which I recorded things I knew about Theresa on. "Wasn't your sad birthday death? Isn't that what you thought? Surprised to wake up alive? You've invoked my anger, so answer!"
"Overlord," the creature spat. I laughed for a while, enjoying the naïve comment.
"Deyana Obligato, scientist, and fortunately not an Overlord," I stood over the creature. "Odd, that you accuse me of a thing, though. Have you met an overlord?"
"No," the creature replied, squinting its dark eyes at me. I nodded.
"Then you wouldn't know," I met its eyes. Miserable, reluctant eyes, not what I needed right now. I needed the resolve that the others gave me. "Name?"
The creature rolled its head to the side, refusing to look at me. I waited, but it didn't answer. "Damn it, you will answer! You have a name, and you WILL tell it to me! NOW! Get over this pathetic mood, and TELL ME!"
"Calvin Shaw," the creature looked at me with denial and terrible pain in its eyes. I nodded, not nearly satisfied.
"Good, Calvin, that's a start," I scribbled his name down. "You resent me without knowing who I am." I grabbed the silver ball in Theresa's head. I showed it to him. The eyes widened on instinct, subconsciously knowing what it was. "Yes, this was in your brain, and I popped it out. It's the manipulator that suppressed your emotions and human memories."
"Why didn't they just kill me?" His eyes showed pure loathing for the ball. I growled, placing the ball back in the jar.
"For the same reason I didn't," I scowled. "Because it's war, and they need people, and I need people. Want to wage war with the overlords?" The pathetic misery left his eyes, and they began alert and intelligent. He nodded. "Good, because numbers is the key to that. How many humans do you think I can get my hands on?"
The eyes reproached me, looking to the side. He knew the answer was next to none. "The human mind is human enough for me. It's the overlord's technology against them. However, brainless, barbaric creatures is not what I want."
"Sick, miserable plan," he muttered. I approached him, waiting until he looked into my livid eyes.
"The last girl didn't think so," I hissed. The eyes widened slightly. "Yes, there is another, fool. She seemed more grateful for a chance to have some say in her fate again. Ungrateful, Calvin," I paused after his name. "Ungrateful is what you are, fool, for what is offered."
"A miserable second chance," he grumbled.
"Second chances are rare, and should be thanked a thousand times for in this terrible world," I scowled. "If you'd like, I'll place that ball right back in your head." His eyes widened terror in them. I felt a smile glide over my face. "Hmm, I see. Corporate, remove yourself from this disposition you're in, and you may see my way soon."
"Doubt it," he sighed. I took a look at the restraints. "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending," his eyes fixed on me. I fixed his gaze after I spoke in a calm voice to him. "How old were you when the change happened?"
"Ten," he scowled. It was a terrible look, but I ignored it.
"I'm willing to release the restraints, if you follow me, on solemn promise not to kill yourself, but to stay in my service." He looked at me. He nodded.
"Yes," was the sullen reply. I undid the many restraints Julio so beautifully put on the table. I motioned for him to stand up, and he obeyed. His eyes still held a dead quality. I hoped it would pass with time.
"Come," I motioned for him. I led him into Dan's old room. "You'll stay here. We're in an underwater lab, so don't do anything stupid, which if you got out of that mood, I'm sure you'd be quite intelligent. Good night, then, Calvin."
I shut the door slightly disgusted, knowing work would be needed to stop this terrible moping. Right now, I was too exhausted to care how it'd be done.
(A/N: Okay, Drum is cool. I plan to involve Drum and Ella in this story a little later. Trust me, it's going to work out. Thanks for reviewing, MorganRay)
(Liza)
"So, we go to the basement, get the ferrets, get the meat, and bolt for the sub?" Theresa lay her head on my lap as Deyana loaded pistols and gave each of us several extra knives, as well as a sword each.
"Yes, exactly," she loaded Julio's backpack down with dynamite. "We're in, we're out, one or two ferrets, with luck, will come with us. Julio and I'll take the ferrets, and you'll carry Theresa, until we need you to help us take down the ferrets."
"Compromise only if our lives are compromised," Julio added. I stared down at the winger, who gazed back up at me. Deyana usually carried Theresa, but Julio thought it best I should this time. Deyana objected at first. She warned me not to slander Theresa in anyway, reminding me constantly that the only thing she had left was her mind.
"Let's go. With all luck, we'll remain undetected," Deyana stepped out first, followed by Julio. I picked up Theresa. Her weight hurt the shoulder I carried her on, so I switched shoulders every so often. It wasn't wise to carry her in my arms, like Deyana did, because I might need both my hands.
"Up," Julio kept me from continuing down the tunnel. He went up first, and I adjusted Theresa to get us both up. I felt her dig her feet into my thigh, to keep from falling off. I bit my lip to keep from screaming in pain.
The sunset filtered across the horizon. Deyana insisted this would be a safe time. The wingers would be roasting, and there was enough sunlight to hurt the ferret's eyes. We passed the warehouse, continuing to the rundown building, with the meat and ferrets in the basement.
I paused inside the door, staying in the remaining rays of sunlight. Julio motioned for me to draw my knives, and I did so. Julio walked down the stairs first, followed by Deyana. I heard Theresa squeak, out of fear. "Yeah, I know," I whispered as I again went down the dark stairs.
The hissing came from the basement. I saw the five sets of red eyes. Julio and Deyana charged down the stairs, and I stayed frozen, afraid to draw my gun and miss.
I saw two eyes come after me, and I lunged at the creature. I threw Theresa on it, and I heard a yelp of pain as she hurt it. I found the neck, swiping the blade through the throat. I found Theresa, coming over to help a struggling Deyana. I could only see three pairs of eyes, and so I killed the ferret Deyana battled.
"You're quite efficient with the blade," Deyana panted, racing over to Julio. The other two went down, struggling, and soon, everything was silent.
"This one," Deyana instructed Julio. He picked up a ferret, and Deyana walked back across the room. "And I've got this one."
"They're sedated for a couple hours, but we'll need another sedative," Deyana led the way up the stairs. When we got in the fading light, I flinched at the ghastly sight of the ferrets. Their snake like bodies, covered with thick, ebony fur, were wider than my waist. They stretched taller than I did when I saw them, in light, stretched over Julio and Deyana's shoulders. I shuddered at the huge fangs and small arms, supporting sharp talons. Was there really a human brain inside those things?
We raced along, between cards, trying to hide. Deyana and Julio both received several wounds, although Deyana's were the worst. I could see the warehouse, but as we passed it, I heard the loud booming footfalls. My heart raced. "Oh my God!" I screamed. Julio Deyana took off at a run, but neither of us moved very fast.
"Leth me gho!" Theresa screeched. "PLEHSE!"
I took her off my shoulders, and she ran a couple feet on her little legs, taking off into the air. She soared, and I watched her, flying over us, coming low enough to follow close enough to us. "AHEAD!"
The seven Myrmidons advanced, getting ready to trap us in their nets. Julio walked up beside me. "Help me out, and if we go down, Deyana, run." I drew a knife and the swords. Julio drew his sword. He grabbed a stick of dynamite, lit it, let the fuse burn down, and threw it at the advancing Myrmidons, killing four of them.
The remaining Myrmidons were too close. One shot their net, catching me. I screamed, using my sword to cut the trappings. Julio advanced on the other two, also getting caught. Theresa swooped down, pulling the one holding Julio on to the ground. She dragged the creature along as it tried to cut her.
I fought at my creature, but it got annoyed, ready to pierce me through. It froze as several gunshots riddled its armor. It glared at me, as I pulled away. I turned back, watching Deyana, pistol cocked, aiming at the other creature. She never missed it, and soon, Julio had rejoined us.
"MORE!" Theresa flew back over. She swooped back at the other Myrmidon. Deyana raced over to the scene, pulling out a dose of sedatives. She ran over, injecting the Myrmidon while Theresa attached it. The creature went limp, and I gasped at the feat.
"Help me!" Deyana screamed.
"You're crazy," Julio whispered, walking over, helping Deyana anyway. "What if it wakes?"
"The ferrets?" I whispered. Deyana waved her hand, obviously considering the Myrmidon more important. I raced back to the tunnel, reaching it first. Theresa helped Deyana and Julio drag the Myrmidon, and soon, Deyana descended the tunnel with me. Next, Julio threw Theresa down, and then, he threw the Myrmidon down.
"Be careful! You'll break its neck!" Deyana hissed. Julio jumped down.
"More," he whispered. The squeaking of trackers could be heard. "Run like hell. Liza, Deyana, help me."
I grabbed Theresa, racing back to the sub. The sewers were dark, and I was terrified of getting lost, but I'd memorized the way we took. I arrived at the end of the tunnel, climbing into the sub. Deyana and Julio soon followed.
We descended, but I couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. The monstrous Myrmidon lay at my feet. How long would it sleep? Deyana pulled out another tube of sedative. She injected it again, a frown deeply set on her face. In her eyes, sparkled ambition, pure and unbridled. (Deyana)
Julio and Liza hoisted the huge creature out of the sub. I grabbed Theresa, hauling her into her bedroom. "Yhour arhm," I gazed down at the bloody gash. I nodded, walking out of the room.
"Julio, help me, like last time," Julio already began doing the restraints. "Liza, draw a gun and a knife. If it wakes before I'm done, you're damage control. Julio, more restraints."
"If it wakes?" Liza's face paled. I gathered the surgical equipment. Julio walked over to me, bandages in hand.
"You can't operate without me fixing your arm," he cleaned it for infection, and then wrapped it up, tending to all my less serious wounds, too. "Okay, should I remove the armor?"
"Only the head gear," Julio took off the helmet that the Myrmidon wore. Liza gasped at the actual face of the creature. The nose protruded a little farther than a human's, the brows where heavy, and the skin rumpled and thick, almost like scales. There was fur covering the forehead, head, and chin. Two small horns protruded from its head, but otherwords, the face remarkable resembled a human's face.
"Creepy," Liza whispered. I had already begun the incisions through the thick skull, penetrating my way down to the little, silver ball. I removed it, carefully repairing the Myrmidon's skull, stitching up the thick skin. I sighed, smashing the ball to pieces.
"Good," I sighed. Liza lowered her weapons, but Julio remained on his guard. "You may go rest, now, and I'll call you when it wakes. There shouldn't be a mission for a while, unless I run into problems, because Myrmidons come with the capability to speak."
"Good," Julio began to treat his own wounds. Liza headed out, back to her room. I followed her, deciding to see Theresa.
"Are you going to sleep, too?" Liza asked quietly. I shook my head. Liza watched as I walked into Theresa's room. She considered following me, waiting at the door, and then, peered in. "Good night," she smiled at the two of us, hinting I wanted to talk to just Theresa.
"Nice," Theresa said. I nodded, watching the winger maneuver her way up into the sleeping bag. I lay on the bed below, looking up at her.
"Splendid job today."
"Thanks," Theresa's English began increasingly better. "I flhoh."
"Yes, everyone certainly pulled their weight quite efficiently," I gazed into the dark ocean. "I think that's what made the original team so weak. We were inexperienced, and some didn't pull their weight."
"Dan?"
"Yes, a little," I sighed. "There were others. Lucky Julio survived. He's the hardest worker I've ever had."
"Yesh," Theresa replied. "Nice."
"Yes," I sighed, laying down. "Don't fall, okay?"
"Ohkhay," Theresa replied. I closed my eyes, drifting into a state of being half-awake and asleep.
I sat up, unable to continue this charade of terrible half sleep. Time passed, apparently, although my brain felt the hours in half consciousness. No, my mind lay in the lab, drifting over the moment of victory or bloody defeat.
I stood up, hearing Theresa's easy breathing. Good, she slept well, and with luck, would have another companion. I slid into the lab, the table illuminated only by one light. I leaned against a cabinet, in a dark corner, watching the sedated Myrmidon.
Victory or defeat, but whatever was worth it for this priceless opportunity. No Myrmidon had ever been captured by my team. Good graces had it I'd done a surgery before now.
The turning of the tide, what a tantalizing phrase! Foolish, really, to think this as the decisive moment, for that really already happened. Still, I felt it, alone, waiting, left with nothing to do but think.
When time spared me a moment to think, I was on the verge. Of what, I never could be sure, but like before Theresa, I felt it. I drank the moment, realizing when it woke up, I'd know if the surgery worked. I'd never studied them Myrmidons, so it could easily wake and kill us all.
Still, death seemed a shadow. At least Dan wasn't here to ruin this for me. Theresa already existed here, breaching that boundary for this creature. Theresa's sacrifice could never be underestimated, her with holding against Dan never forgotten. She never told me, but I knew him.
That loathsome bastard! He took Stelo, who would have been another useful number. Better, though, to have three loyal than five treacherous. I smiled, slightly, realizing how quickly everything began to move. My plan began to slide along, and this would advance my cause. True, the supply route was still dangerous, and a new one still might need to be found.
A loud groan came from the creature. I felt my body go rigid, breathless, and stiff. I waited for the attack, secretly hoping against it. The eyes opened, staring up at the ceiling. Another deep groan reverberated from its throat.
Ah, another success. I watched, letting my smile grow wide. Great risk reaped greater advantages. I didn't move, watching its eyes. Thoughts raced behind the eyes.
Fear flashed about, fear of the surrounding. If Theresa's account was correct, it couldn't remember a period of time before its sad birthday. Intelligent eyes pieced quickly together that information. Escape, the eyes screamed. It thought it might be in the meat factory.
Escape not from surrounding, I realized, but from its body. The eyes pleaded silently for it. I walked forward. "There's no escape from there."
"Death," a deep base voice replied. I scowled.
"Suicide, a coward's choice," I gazed down, furious, at this mind's choice. "Death? Death! The dead cannot change their fortunes! While in life, things may be done, but in death, it is over."
"Better," the eyes looked towards the side. I felt the urge to kill this pathetic thing on the table.
"Better? Is that so? Do you think your fate is entirely your own? No! Our lives don't belong to us, but are more than just ours." I grabbed the little clipboard, which I recorded things I knew about Theresa on. "Wasn't your sad birthday death? Isn't that what you thought? Surprised to wake up alive? You've invoked my anger, so answer!"
"Overlord," the creature spat. I laughed for a while, enjoying the naïve comment.
"Deyana Obligato, scientist, and fortunately not an Overlord," I stood over the creature. "Odd, that you accuse me of a thing, though. Have you met an overlord?"
"No," the creature replied, squinting its dark eyes at me. I nodded.
"Then you wouldn't know," I met its eyes. Miserable, reluctant eyes, not what I needed right now. I needed the resolve that the others gave me. "Name?"
The creature rolled its head to the side, refusing to look at me. I waited, but it didn't answer. "Damn it, you will answer! You have a name, and you WILL tell it to me! NOW! Get over this pathetic mood, and TELL ME!"
"Calvin Shaw," the creature looked at me with denial and terrible pain in its eyes. I nodded, not nearly satisfied.
"Good, Calvin, that's a start," I scribbled his name down. "You resent me without knowing who I am." I grabbed the silver ball in Theresa's head. I showed it to him. The eyes widened on instinct, subconsciously knowing what it was. "Yes, this was in your brain, and I popped it out. It's the manipulator that suppressed your emotions and human memories."
"Why didn't they just kill me?" His eyes showed pure loathing for the ball. I growled, placing the ball back in the jar.
"For the same reason I didn't," I scowled. "Because it's war, and they need people, and I need people. Want to wage war with the overlords?" The pathetic misery left his eyes, and they began alert and intelligent. He nodded. "Good, because numbers is the key to that. How many humans do you think I can get my hands on?"
The eyes reproached me, looking to the side. He knew the answer was next to none. "The human mind is human enough for me. It's the overlord's technology against them. However, brainless, barbaric creatures is not what I want."
"Sick, miserable plan," he muttered. I approached him, waiting until he looked into my livid eyes.
"The last girl didn't think so," I hissed. The eyes widened slightly. "Yes, there is another, fool. She seemed more grateful for a chance to have some say in her fate again. Ungrateful, Calvin," I paused after his name. "Ungrateful is what you are, fool, for what is offered."
"A miserable second chance," he grumbled.
"Second chances are rare, and should be thanked a thousand times for in this terrible world," I scowled. "If you'd like, I'll place that ball right back in your head." His eyes widened terror in them. I felt a smile glide over my face. "Hmm, I see. Corporate, remove yourself from this disposition you're in, and you may see my way soon."
"Doubt it," he sighed. I took a look at the restraints. "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending," his eyes fixed on me. I fixed his gaze after I spoke in a calm voice to him. "How old were you when the change happened?"
"Ten," he scowled. It was a terrible look, but I ignored it.
"I'm willing to release the restraints, if you follow me, on solemn promise not to kill yourself, but to stay in my service." He looked at me. He nodded.
"Yes," was the sullen reply. I undid the many restraints Julio so beautifully put on the table. I motioned for him to stand up, and he obeyed. His eyes still held a dead quality. I hoped it would pass with time.
"Come," I motioned for him. I led him into Dan's old room. "You'll stay here. We're in an underwater lab, so don't do anything stupid, which if you got out of that mood, I'm sure you'd be quite intelligent. Good night, then, Calvin."
I shut the door slightly disgusted, knowing work would be needed to stop this terrible moping. Right now, I was too exhausted to care how it'd be done.
(A/N: Okay, Drum is cool. I plan to involve Drum and Ella in this story a little later. Trust me, it's going to work out. Thanks for reviewing, MorganRay)